​Human Research (Humanities) Ethics

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Scope/ Function

The purpose of the Research Ethics Committee (REC): Humanities in reviewing research, is to contribute to safeguarding the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of all actual or potential participants in social, behavioral , economic and educational research conducted at Stellenbosch University.

The Research Ethics Committee provides independent, competent, and timely reviews of the ethical risks related to research proposals, and can recommend measures aimed at avoiding or minimising these risks – acknowledging that the ethics dimensions of research can never be fully separated from the scientific dimensions of research (which include, among other things, methodological, theoretical and institutional aspects).

The Research Ethics application process starts within the respective Departments via the Departmental/Faculty Ethics Screening Committee (DESC/FESC). Applications are screened to determine their risk levels. Low risk projects are screened by the DESC and are ratified by the REC: Humanities. Only applications that are deemed as medium or high risk are referred to the REC for review at a convened meeting.